Beez Neez now Chy Whella - Alice Reptile Centre

Alice Reptile Centre

Beez Neez now Chy Whella

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Fri 1 Apr 2016 22:37

Alice Springs Reptile Centre

You could have knocked me down with a feather when Bear said, after we’ve been to the Botanical Gardens I fancy the Reptile Centre. So pleased I was sitting down, “do you see yourself hugging a snake”, Ooooooooo, not promising. Well, at least that wasn’t an affirmative three points for a refusal........ So, after we had finished in the garden we walked the short distance to Alice Springs Reptile Centre.

Rex Neindorf, the owner of the Reptile Centre, fulfilled a life-long dream when in mid 1999 he moved into the premises. After six months of hard work with the aid of many friends and local builders, the property was transformed into The Reptile Centre and was opened to the public in January 2000. May 2002 saw the next major achievement with the arrival of ‘Terry’ the saltwater crocodile. The Reptile Centre displays over a hundred reptiles of sixty different species, providing a comprehensive overview of Northern Territory reptile fauna. In 2010 The Gecko Cave was constructed adding some thirteen species of gecko’s from a range of habitats throughout the Northern Territory. And, of course a hands-on session with a python and a couple of other chaps.

After the intense heat of the day, we began in the Gecko Cave. The first chap was a real sweetie – in fact they all were, except for the last one who was a bit of a surprise – a legless lizard, although it looks like a snake, in fact one of thirty eight species of legless lizard found in Australia. Unlike snakes, these chaps can hear and their tongue is fleshy not forked. The only similarity is their colouring.

The next pair carry the fabulous name of the Centralian Knob-tail gecko, also known simply as Rough Knob-tailed geckos, they are one of the most bizarre groups of lizards. No purpose has ever been acknowledged as to the appearance of these knobs, however, they have been known to wiggle their tails during hunting, almost as if they are excited for their next meal. Now, the penny drops, Bear is a Rough-Knob, Oh, I say, at least you think they have a lot of character and are in their own way handsome. I don’t remember the word handsome.......... I’ve told you a hundred billion times not to exaggerate....... Back to the chaps, native to central Australia, females can reach thirteen centimetres in length – making them the largest knob-tail gecko species. Due to their nocturnal nature, these geckos are rarely seen during the day and hide away under rock ledges and in grass. They largely feed on arthropods, but have also been known to eat smaller species of geckos as well. Therein another similarity – not fussy eaters. I can’t help loving all food. No, clearly another reason why you’re called Big Bear, OK, skinny bint........

Bear walked past these lovelies quite swiftly. Olive Pythons, like most pythons these are mainly nocturnal, feeding on mammals, birds and reptiles. Found in the northern regions of Australia, these non-venomous snakes can grow to over five metres in length and weigh approximately thirty kilograms. Colours range from light fawn to very dark olive-brown. All pythons (except the Woma and Black-headed) have heat-sensing pits on their cheeks, which help them to detect the warmth from their prey. They can eat a rock wallaby and not need to eat for the next three months.........

Hissing Sid. Most reptiles raise their body temperature by basking in the sun. The distinctive black colouring on this Black-Headed Python was thought to be a further refinement in temperature control. From the comparative safety of a rock crevice, cave, hollow log or burrow, this snake can raise its body temperature by exposing only the head to sunlight. The brain heats quickly and the warm blood is circulated throughout the body. Currently, the black head is believed to help with stealth; when it attacks prey they can remain undetected while approaching. Their diet consists mainly of reptiles, including venomous snakes, but they also eat mammals and birds. This preference for reptiles is cited as a likely reason for the narrow head and the absence of heat sensory pits. They have a threatening disposition when disturbed, displayed by elevating its head and hissing. If I was a snake I would quite like to be one of these. Yes, that’s about it – hot head, sneaking up on people and plenty of hissing...... What was that ??? Nothing dear, nothing.........

Carpet pythons are predominantly an arboreal nocturnal species, though sometimes they can be found basking and foraging by day. They live in the rocky ranges and outcrops of arid southern Northern Territory where they shelter in hollow trunks and tree limbs, especially those adjacent to water, rock crevices and caves. Their diets comprise of mainly mammals and birds but reptiles and amphibians can also be taken. The row of seven pits that trace the line of the jaw are heat sensitive used to detect ‘warm blooded’ prey in the dark. These heat receptors are sensitive to all temperatures above the pythons own body temperature. In some snakes they can register a change as little as one thousandth of a degree Celsius. This chap can be blindfolded and still catch a flying bat at a distance of fifty centimetres. Impressive skill.

A look at a few more chaps and then we went outside.

Our first outdoor chap was this curious looking Shingleback – looks like a push-me-pull-you.

Merten’s Water Monitor, was just too quick to get him with his tongue out.

We had a good laugh when this thorny devil stuck his head up, ran up behind a potential love match, tried it on but all didn’t end well. Cold shoulder and no cigar.

I put this picture on our Facebook page with: Thorny devils stand in water and drink by capillary action, The water travels up their legs along the back and into the mouth. The lump on the back of their neck is a false head, if attacked they tuck their head between their legs - the false one can be ripped off, heal but not regrow, helping these little chaps live to twenty years old. They move in a stop-start rocking to look like a leaf blowing in the wind. Bear looked like a man with with ‘a light come on’, straight home to put his feet in a bowl of rum........I’m going to give this a serious test......... Mmmm.

Cute, well compared to the next fellow, yes. We spent some time with Terry and then did another circuit and gallery of the Centre until our three thirty hands-on.